Improvement in beams for floors



W. WL LU MMS.

Beams for Floors".

Patented June 17. 1873.

INVENTOR.

AM. Plmra-Lrrflosmm/c ca Mx (assen/v pnocfss) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. LUMMUS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEAMS FOR FLOORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,904, dated June 17, 1873 application filed November 19, 1872.

` of this specification:

The nature or essence of my invention consists in a plate of iron with slits cut in two opposite edges, and bent to receive a wooden bar to form a nailing-surface to or at each, the bars being secured firmly to the iron by nails or otherwise; and in cutting the slits in onc edge opposite the spaces between the slits in the other edge.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of one side of a beam with my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end, and Fig. 3 an elevation of one side and one end of a modification ofy said improved beam.

In the above-mentioned drawings, A is a plate of sheet metal with slits B B cut in each edge 5 these slits are cut about opposite the middle of the spaces between the slits on the opposite edge. That portion of the iron between the slits is bent alternately in each direction to an angle of about forty-tive degrees, as shown in Fig .2 at J J, and theedges of the portion bent oifareturned up at a right angle to the part J to hold the wooden bars B and C, which are pushed in from one end, and-fastened by the nails N N. The upper corner of the bar B is cut off, as shown at E, to form a dat surface for the door or roof-boards which may be nailed to the bar, and the lower corner of the bar U is cut off to form a horizontal surface for the latlls or ceiling which may be nailed to it.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of my improved beam. The iron between the slits is bent off at a right angle to the portion A, and the edges of the part bent oft' are turned up and perforated to receive the nails N N, which fasten the wooden bars B and G to the iron. Beams, rafters, or joist, made in this way furnish'a broad nailingsurface for flooring or laths.

When no nailing-strip is required at the lower edge of the beam, it may be left whole, and bent one side at a right angle to the vertical portion of the beam.

The advantages ot this improved beam are its simplicity of construction and adaptation, economy in the quantity of iron used for a beam of given strength, with little danger of yielding or bending; besides, it furnishes wood nailing for. flooring, rooting, ceiling, furring or laths, which nailing is partially protected from fire by the iron.

What I claim as my invention and improvenientis l. An iron beam, consisting of a single plate of iron, with its edges slit or cut, and bent to hold nailing-strips for oor, ceiling, furring, or laths.

2. The slits in the edges of the iron beam cut or made on either edge opposite the middle of the spaces on the opposite edge, substantially as described.

' WILLIAM W. LUMMUS. Witnesses:

J. DENNrs, JR.,

EDM. -F. BROWN. 

